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Pastor's Ponderings
Scouting News
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The Mountain View I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where
does my help come? August 2004 Pastor's Ponderings.... "To Unload or Not to Unload: That is the Question!" Galatians 6:2-5 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. "Carry each other's burdens" and "for each one should carry their own load in the same passage! Two seemingly contradictory thoughts just a few verses apart. It appears that as we fellowship together and live together in God's love, both approaches are necessary, depending on the situation. At times we share our burdens with others. At other times we carry the load on our own. How might you discern the appropriate time to "unload" on someone else and when it is time to work things through on your own? Through prayer, Bible study, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, may you know the right actions for the right time. And may your decisions always by guided by God's perfect timing. In Christ's Service, VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL Our Rickshaw Rally was so much fun!! We had a great week of Bible lessons, singing, crafts, snacks and recreation. We had 37 kids who attended. On Friday, we had a program and lunch for parents. Our mission project was to bring canned goods for Crossroads Urban Center. We collected 96 pounds!! A HUGE thank you to:
Thank you also to all who contributed food, money and/or craft material to make this year's VBS such a success!! Our Youth Group has continued to meet during the summer with Bible lessons, games, service projects, birthday celebrations, and planning. We distributed Vacation Bible School fliers in some nearby neighborhoods after celebrating July birthdays on the 7th. On the 14th, we had a field game night at a park under some ominous clouds. Thanks to Dallas Curtiss for helping out with that activity! Nancy led an awesome Bible lesson outside on the 21st reminding us that "The Lord is Our ROCK" from Psalms 18:2. The week of July 19th was Vacation Bible School, and many of our youth group members participated in the program and/or helped run it. They did an absolutely awesome job with the games, lessons, food, and everything else involved in running the program WAY TO GO!!!! On the 28th, the Youth Group supplied dinner following the service. It was Pot Luck style with everyone bringing a little something new to try. Thanks to all who helped out with that meal. Thanks to all of you who contributed to our Mission Fund for John Peter from Equador. August is the last month that we will regularly meet as a large group. Starting in September, we will primarily meet as 2 groups. Junior High Youth will include ages 12 up to the end of 8th grade. Senior High will include grades 9-12 (and beyond for those who want to keep coming). Our schedule for August is as follows:
YLC [Youth Leadership Conference] is for all ages and will be November 12-14 at Snow Mountain Ranch close to Winter Park in Colorado. I don't have any information on the cost yet, but it should be around $200 for the complete trip. I will pass on information as it comes in. Up With Youth for grades 9-12 is the first week in April. It is also around $200. Remember to keep saving some change for John Peter from Equador whom we are sponsoring through Compassion International. We are still not meeting our monthly commitment of $28. Put your collection cup in a conspicuous place at home, and ask your family if they will help you by placing some of their loose change in the cup as well. What may seem like a little amount can really add up. As you can see, our Youth Group is very active in a variety of different activities. If you would like more information about the Mountain Vista UMC Youth Group, contact Mitch or Patty Lambdin, Nancy Peralez or Pastor Steve (280-4148) for more information.
Lifeline August 2004 For the past year that I've lived in Salt Lake City I've noticed the lack of ministry opportunities for young adults on the west side of the valley and I wanted to do something about it. So I began to put together a master plan on how to minister effectively to the college and young adults in the Salt Lake City area. Little did I know that God was about to give me a place to put it into practice. This past June I came to Mountain Vita just to visit—not wanting to be a part of the church in any way. But after meeting with Pastor Steve and sharing with him the vision that God had given me to start a ministry for college and young adults, I knew that Mountain Vista was going to be my new church home. I came up with the name Lifeline because statistics show that college and young adults struggle with their faith in Jesus. This happens mainly because of what they learn in college and from the world. College and young adults need a lifeline to Jesus, someone that they can hold on to when living in the real world gets tough. The Mission and Vision of Lifeline College and Young Adult Fellowship:
Core Practices of Lifeline CYF
In Rick Warren's book "The Purpose Driven Life" he talks about the 5 purposes that each believer should base his or her life upon. I have applied those 5 purposes for the reason that Lifeline CYF exists:
It's my desire that Lifeline College and Young Adult Fellowship at Mountain Vista become an active group. I would like to extend an invitation to all the college and young adults who are 18 to 35 years of age to come and be a part. On Sunday, September 12th, following the 11:00 a.m. service will be our first meeting. This will be a time when we can all come together for a time of fellowship and discussing some upcoming events. There will also be some young adults from Hilltop UMC and Centenary UMC joining us as well. Lunch will be served!! If you have any questions feel free to contact
me anytime or email me at: In His Service,
REFLECTIONS Forgiveness Hebrews 12:15 (NIV) See to it no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. I was reading an article in a magazine the other day about forgiveness. It struck a chord in my heart because it talked about how bitterness and an unforgiving attitude can keep us captive. I have also been told that cancer is a growth within the body that ultimately destroys the host body. Cancer is to the human self as bitterness and the lack of an unforgiving spirit is to the spiritual self. Unchecked bitterness destroys. Caustic comments drive people away from us. Having an unforgiving spirit is a festering wound that disables and controls our spiritual growth. Have you ever thought about what is really behind the feelings of bitterness? Could it be that we are wanting justice? Are we expecting God to exact justice from the person who wronged us? Matt. 18:24-25 tells us that unless we forgive we will not be forgiven. In Hebrews 10:30 we are told that we are not to seek vengeance. That is God’s prerogative. While we are exercising our “righteous indignation” we are denying our own sin of being bitter towards our siblings in Christ. By constantly reviewing the perceived wrong done to us we rekindle the fires of resentment and anger. It takes a lot of emotional energy to maintain these negative feelings, leaving us emotionally and spiritually exhausted. Refusal to forgive keeps us captive to those powerful feelings. Asking God to change our heart can be a turning point in moving toward forgiveness. The feelings of bitterness and resentment are deeply embedded in our personality. Asking God to help free ourselves from these feelings can release us from feelings of depression and self-pity. God has said his grace is sufficient for ALL; God does not need our help to determine who needs punishment. Peace From Salt Lake Interfaith Hospitality Network Dear Jerry, We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mountain Vista for selecting Salt Lake Interfaith Hospitality Network as the beneficiary of $1,200.50 from your annual production of “Broadway, the Movie.” We are so grateful for your generosity! Funds received from this event will provide essential services to homeless families. We appreciate and acknowledge all you do in the community. Your partnership with SLIHN in our community response to homeless families in transition is invaluable! Families in our self-sufficiency program utilize the day center during day hours. One-on-one counseling is provided on a daily basis that assists the families with issues of jobs, child-care and housing. Again, thank you and may God bless you as we continue in “Our Community Response for Homeless Families.” SANDWICH MISSIONDon’t forget the Sandwich Mission. Every third week of the month we make and serve sandwiches as an outreach mission. The dates for August are: For questions or information, contact Peggy Porter.
Mountain Vista UMC Praise Team Takes Their Music on the Road Our Praise Team is sharing their music at the following places in August: August 8 –
Hilltop UMC, 9:30 a.m. Service FLOWERSWould you like to help brighten up our sanctuary? Flowers on the altar each Sunday are needed. They can come from your yard or from a store. Maybe you would like to honor someone for a special event or a special day, a remembrance or a celebration. If you let the office know in whose honor the flowers are, it will be printed in the Sunday bulletin. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway for each Sunday of the month. Any questions or for more information, contact Betty Ross. Thanks!! JUNIOR HIGH RETREAT
WEEKEND AUGUST 13-15
PINECLIFF CAMP COST: $65 An incredible weekend retreat for Mid-high Youth. Meet new friends and share your faith.
Director: Linda Hartney
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